Begonia plant named ‘Bbnes’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Begonia  plant named ‘Bbnes’, characterized by its compact, upright and mounded plant habit; double flowers with yellow and orange bi-colored tepals; and excellent flower longevity.

Botanical classification/cultivar designation: Begonia×hiemalis cultivarBbnes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Begoniaplant, botanically known as Begonia×hiemalis, commercially known asElatior Begonia, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Bbnes’.

The new Begonia was discovered and selected by the Inventor in acontrolled environment in Odense, Denmark in April, 1999, as anaturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Begonia×hiemalis ‘Batik’,not patented. The new Begonia was observed as a single plant in a groupof flowering plants of the parent cultivar.

Asexual reproduction of the new Begonia by cuttings in a controlledenvironment in Odense, Denmark since 1999, has shown that the uniquefeatures of this new Begonia are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Bbnes’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Bbnes’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Bbnes’ as a new and distinct Begonia:

-   -   1. Compact, upright and mounded plant habit.    -   2. Double flowers with yellow and orange bi-colored tepals.    -   3. Excellent flower longevity.

Plants of the new Begonia are most similar to plants of the parent, thecultivar Batik. Plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plantsof the cultivar Batik in flower color as tepals of plants of thecultivar Bbnes are yellow and orange bi-colored whereas tepals of plantsof the cultivar Batik are orange in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Begonia, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Begonia.

The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical floweringplant of ‘Bbnes’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The aforementionedphotograph and following observations and measurements describe plantsgrown in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands during the spring and summer, andgrown under conditions typical of commercial practice in a glass-coveredgreenhouse. During the production of the plants, day and nighttemperatures ranged from 15 to 20° C., and light levels were about18,000 lux. Plants used for the photograph and the description weregrown in 13-cm containers and were about three months old when thephotograph and description were taken.

-   Botanical classification: Begonia×hiemalis cultivar Bbnes.-   Commercial classification: Elatior Begonia.-   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of    Begonia×hiemalis cultivar Batik, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About two weeks at temperatures of            20° C.        -   Time to develop roots.—About five weeks at temperatures of            20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous and well-branched. Plants of            the new Begonia have not been observed to form tubers.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form and habit.—Compact, upright and mounded plant            habit; freely branching with about five or six basal            branches per plant. Moderately vigorous. Vegetative shoots            are formed at basal nodes and flowering shoots are formed at            upper nodes.        -   Plant height.—About 20 cm.        -   Plant width.—About 20 to 25 cm.        -   Leaves.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length: About 9 cm.            Width: About 6 to 7 cm. Shape: Ovate; asymmetrical. Apex:            Acuminate. Base: Oblique. Margin: Doubly crenate. Texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous, smooth; leathery.            Venation pattern: Palmate. Color: Developing and fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A. Developing            and fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 137C.            Venation, upper surface: Close to 137A. Venation, lower            surface: Close to 137C. Petiole length: About 4 to 6 cm.            Petiole diameter: About 4 mm. Petiole color, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to 137A. Stipule quantity: Two per leaf.            Stipule size: About 1 cm by 1 cm. Stipule texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Stipule color, upper and            lower surfaces: Close to 137C.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—Double flowers with about 10 to 12 tepals            per flower; flowers arranged in axillary cymes. Numerous            cymes in flower simultaneously; about 25 to 30 open flowers            per plant. Flowers positioned above and beyond the foliage.            Flowers not fragrant.        -   Natural flowering season.—Under natural daylight conditions,            plants flower from spring until the fall. Flower initiation            and development is induced by long day/short night            conditions. Flowering continuous under photoinductive            conditions.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about four to five            weeks on the plant.        -   Flowers.—Shape: Oval; double. Orientation: Flat to cupped.            Diameter: About 4 to 5 cm. Depth (height): About 1 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1 to 1.5 cm. Diameter: About            2 cm. Color: Close to 19C.        -   Tepals.—Arrangement: Rosette. Shape: Obovate to rounded.            Apex: Rounded. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Length: About 2            to 3 cm. Width: About 3 to 4 cm. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper            surface: 30C. When opening, lower surface: 19C. Fully            opened, upper surface: 16A; towards the margins, 30C. Fully            opened, lower surface: 19C.        -   Flower bracts.—Quantity: Two per flower. Arrangement:            Opposite. Length: About 1 cm. Width: About 1 cm. Shape:            Rounded. Apex: Rounded. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: 146D.        -   Peduncles.—Angle: About 30 to 45° from vertical. Length:            About 4 to 5 cm. Diameter: About 3 to 4 mm. Strength:            Strong. Texture: Smooth. Color: 146D.        -   Pedicels.—Angle: About 30 to 45° from vertical. Length:            About 2 to 3 cm. Diameter: About 2 to 3 mm. Strength:            Strong. Texture: Smooth. Color: 146D.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: None observed. Pistils: None            observed.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed            as reproductive organs are not formed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Begonia have been    observed to be resistant to Powdery Mildew. Plants of the new    Begonia have not been observed to be resistant to pests and other    pathogens common to Begonia.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Begonia plant named ‘Bbnes’, asillustrated and described.